Brick vs Foqos
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Brick
Physical device you tap to block distracting phone apps
From $59 one-time
Where they differ
- Brick starts at $59 one-time purchase (device; the app is free). Foqos is free.
- Foqos has a free plan. Brick does not.
- Only Brick lists an Android app.
- Only Foqos lists a macOS app.
- Brick can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Foqos is open source, according to its own site.
In commoniOSSite & app blocker
At a glance
| Brick | Foqos | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free |
| Starts at | $59 one-time purchase (device; the app is free) | Free |
| Free plan | None | Free on the App Store with no subscription, ads or account. The listing shows three optional tips for the developer, at $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Brick LLC | Ambition Software Inc. |
| Price read from | getbrick.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Brick
- People who override app-based blockers and want a physical barrier
- Households sharing one device across several phones
- Leaving distractions in another room during work, meals or sleep
Foqos
- iPhone users who want a free alternative to hardware app blockers
- Tying a block to a tag or printed code kept in another room
- People who want a blocker with no account, ads or tracking
Worth knowing
Brick
- Unblocking needs the physical Brick; if it is lost, the app offers five Emergency Unbricks and more only on request.
- On iPhone it blocks any app except Phone, but only selected Safari sites from Apple's approved list.
- It needs iOS 17.0 or later or Android 12.0 or later; the App Store lists the app for iPhone only, and no desktop version is offered.
- Cases at $39 and the Brick Mount at $15 are sold separately from the $59 device.
Foqos
- The App Store lists it as iPhone only, needing iOS 17.6 or later. The site says it is made for iPhone and points Android users to other apps.
- Foqos for Mac is a companion, not a standalone blocker: it blocks websites synced from iPhone profiles and needs macOS 14 or later and the same iCloud account.
- NFC strategies need an iPhone with NFC and tags you buy yourself; QR codes and the manual and timer strategies need no hardware.
- The App Store listing shows optional tip purchases of $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99, although the site's FAQ says there are no in-app purchases.
Key features
Brick
- Tap to block, tap to unblock
- Tapping the phone against the Brick blocks the chosen apps, and only another tap on the device restores them. It has no battery and needs no Wi-Fi.
- Custom modes
- Up to 10 modes, such as work, family, sleep or gym, each blocking its own set of apps. A mode can instead allow only chosen apps and block the rest.
- Remote start
- Holding the virtual Brick in the app for 5 seconds starts a session from anywhere. The physical device is still needed to end it.
- Strict Mode
- Closes common loopholes by preventing the app from being deleted or its settings changed in order to unblock.
- Emergency Unbricks
- The app includes five Emergency Unbricks that unblock every app if the device is lost. More can be requested from support by email.
- Schedules and analytics
- The site lists schedules and analytics alongside modes, and a focus timer starts with each session to record distraction-free time.
Foqos
- App and website blocking
- Profiles for work, study or bedtime each block a chosen set of apps, app categories and website domains through Apple's Screen Time APIs. Adult content and app installs can be blocked too.
- NFC tags and QR codes
- Tap a standard NFC tag such as an NTAG213, or scan a QR code or barcode, to start or stop a session. A profile can be set so that only an approved tag or code will stop it.
- Twelve blocking strategies
- The README lists twelve strategies that combine manual, NFC, QR, timer, pause-timer and temporary-access rules, for example starting in the app but stopping only with a tag.
- Breaks and temporary access
- A profile can carry a break allowance that is split across several breaks, a short pause before blocking resumes, or a set number of brief opens that do not end the session.
- Siri, Shortcuts and widgets
- Sessions respond to Siri phrases and iOS Shortcuts actions, widgets (Control Center ones included) give quicker profile control, and a Live Activity shows status on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.
- Foqos for Mac
- A companion app for macOS 14 or later takes a profile's blocked websites from the iPhone through iCloud and blocks them on the Mac during focus sessions.
Plans
Brick
Brick$59
one-time purchase per device
One Brick device, used with the free companion app and any number of phones. Sold with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Foqos
Foqos$0
The full iPhone app and the Mac companion: app and website blocking, NFC and QR strategies, timers, breaks, widgets and insights.
Ways to pay less
Brick
- Other savings
10% off two or more Bricks
The product page prices two Bricks at $106.20 instead of $118, a 10% saving, and adds free shipping on orders of two or more.
- Other savings
20% off for military, teachers and medics
US military, first responders, teachers and medical professionals who verify through ID.me get 20% off a Brick. It applies to new customers and to the device only.
- Education
Student discount
Brick's site links a Student Discount page for unlocking a discount. The page text does not show the amount.
Foqos
No public discounts listed.
